Jameis Winston

I'm starting this thread here because WRAL doesn't provide a general forum to discuss ongoing sports topics that don't directly involve local teams. Comments on news articles have no continuity as stories get bumped off the front page on a daily basis.

This particular story has ramifications for the Heisman trophy race as well as the final BCS championship game involving an ACC school. It even has the potential to involve Duke peripherally, in the event they win the Coastal Division next week.

Despite its national notoriety, there is a lot more that we don't know about this incident than what we do know. I'm interested in how other readers here feel about the situation.

I'm starting this thread here because WRAL doesn't provide a general forum to discuss ongoing sports topics that don't directly involve local teams. Comments on news articles have no continuity as stories get bumped off the front page on a daily basis.

This particular story has ramifications for the Heisman trophy race as well as the final BCS championship game involving an ACC school. It even has the potential to involve Duke peripherally, in the event they win the Coastal Division next week.

Despite its national notoriety, there is a lot more that we don't know about this incident than what we do know. I'm interested in how other readers here feel about the situation.

— Posted by Ken D.

Unfortunately in this day in age information, whether true, false, partly true, partly false, fabricated, fabricated by a rival etc....is available in almost real time on the internet. It is impossible to tell what is fact or not WHILE the story is developing. This story is still developing, I will wait until all the facts are in - whatever they may be.

What we know so far (or at least what we have been told by various parties):

In early December, 2012, a Florida State student from Tampa filed a complaint with Tallahassee police alleging she was sexually assaulted. She was not able at that time to identify her alleged assailant. Apparently, a rape kit was obtained, since police did have a DNA sample from an unidentified male.

The police report indicates that the woman described her attacker as between 5'9&quot; and 5'11&quot;. Jameis Winston is 6'4&quot;. The incident is said to have occurred at an off-campus apartment. Presumably, this would be where the Tallahassee police started their investigation.

At some point between the incident and early January, about a month later, Winston's name emerged in connection with the case. And, around this time, it appears that both the complainant and Winston had engaged lawyers to represent them. According to the plaintiff's attorney, the police (TPD) refused to seek a DNA sample from Winston to compare with the rape kit sample.

Within another month, TPD says the plaintiff &quot;stopped cooperating&quot; with the investigation and would not respond to inquiries. At that point, the TPD classified the case as inactive, and notified Winston's attorney that, in his words, the case was closed.

A couple of weeks ago, the case was apparently reactivated, though it isn't clear why, or at whose instigation.

What we know so far (or at least what we have been told by various parties):

In early December, 2012, a Florida State student from Tampa filed a complaint with Tallahassee police alleging she was sexually assaulted. She was not able at that time to identify her alleged assailant. Apparently, a rape kit was obtained, since police did have a DNA sample from an unidentified male.

The police report indicates that the woman described her attacker as between 5'9" and 5'11". Jameis Winston is 6'4". The incident is said to have occurred at an off-campus apartment. Presumably, this would be where the Tallahassee police started their investigation.

At some point between the incident and early January, about a month later, Winston's name emerged in connection with the case. And, around this time, it appears that both the complainant and Winston had engaged lawyers to represent them. According to the plaintiff's attorney, the police (TPD) refused to seek a DNA sample from Winston to compare with the rape kit sample.

Within another month, TPD says the plaintiff "stopped cooperating" with the investigation and would not respond to inquiries. At that point, the TPD classified the case as inactive, and notified Winston's attorney that, in his words, the case was closed.

A couple of weeks ago, the case was apparently reactivated, though it isn't clear why, or at whose instigation.

— Posted by Ken D.

A lot of questions - of course ESPN reported JW DNA was found at the scene and he is claiming consensual sex..... right now the only thing for sure is that is a major disruption to FSU, it may become a big mess, I hope justice is served either way

It appears there were at least four people in the apartment, if claims that there were two &quot;eyewitnesses&quot; who would corroborate Winston's story about what happened are true.

Let's assume for a minute that there were only the four people there. The fact she did not claim she was abducted would imply that the woman went voluntarily by herself to an apartment with three men she did not know. OK. It happens in college.

Envision this possibility. The woman agrees to go to the bedroom with Winston, a tall, studly athlete who probably has some confidence in his sexual prowess given that he had been a BMOC all his life. She has unprotected sex with him, without even knowing his name. Maybe alcohol was involved. When they emerge, one of the other men views her as easy, and is willing to settle for sloppy seconds. Maybe Winston eggs him on. He forces himself on her, or at least tries to.

It is this second encounter, possibly involving a 5'10&quot;-ish man, that causes the woman to consider the entire event a single sexual assault. She describes the second guy to police because the first sex was consensual.

Later, when she somehow learns that the stud she had voluntary sex with is a big football star, she engages a lawyer who sees a big payday in her future.

Regardless of the outcome, this case has the potential to impact a lot of innocent people negatively. Too bad. This is a strange situation with the small amount of facts so far. I don't think anyone can draw conclustions with what is now known.

It appears there were at least four people in the apartment, if claims that there were two "eyewitnesses" who would corroborate Winston's story about what happened are true.

Let's assume for a minute that there were only the four people there. The fact she did not claim she was abducted would imply that the woman went voluntarily by herself to an apartment with three men she did not know. OK. It happens in college.

Envision this possibility. The woman agrees to go to the bedroom with Winston, a tall, studly athlete who probably has some confidence in his sexual prowess given that he had been a BMOC all his life. She has unprotected sex with him, without even knowing his name. Maybe alcohol was involved. When they emerge, one of the other men views her as easy, and is willing to settle for sloppy seconds. Maybe Winston eggs him on. He forces himself on her, or at least tries to.

It is this second encounter, possibly involving a 5'10"-ish man, that causes the woman to consider the entire event a single sexual assault. She describes the second guy to police because the first sex was consensual.

Later, when she somehow learns that the stud she had voluntary sex with is a big football star, she engages a lawyer who sees a big payday in her future.

— Posted by Ken D.

This is a sorry post from someone who seems to think he is the All Knowing Person on this forum. If it were your wife or girlfriend making this allegation I bet you would feel otherwise. Your smugness and attitude on this forum make me sick. You need to grow up and realize women are not just objects but people and they have as much rights as any football player or anyone else. Shame on you Ken DA!!!!!

She is who can profit, unfortunately. Even more intriguing is why did the case wait to be reopened AFTER Winston became the hottest commodity in CFB? It comes across like she knew it was consenual and only later claimed rape when his notoreity sky rocketed, looking a payday. Of course he could be a lying rapist who forced her into having sex, attempted to pay her off early and then when she realized how popular he had gotten decided to reopen the file.

She was inebriated and could not willingly consent. Multiple people were involved and after his name came up, someone paid her to stay quiet.

That is a long version made short, but something made this case get pushed along after laying dormant for months.

— Posted by dooksucks 11

To me, that's the $64 question. Who profits from resurrecting this case now?

— Posted by Ken D.

Dook?

— Posted by NCheatStateU

Bingo!!

The stars have aligned for Duke this year in football! With a probable Coastal division title on the way for them and a matchup against FSU in the ACC Championship game who would benefit the most if Winston didn't play?

She is who can profit, unfortunately. Even more intriguing is why did the case wait to be reopened AFTER Winston became the hottest commodity in CFB? It comes across like she knew it was consenual and only later claimed rape when his notoreity sky rocketed, looking a payday. Of course he could be a lying rapist who forced her into having sex, attempted to pay her off early and then when she realized how popular he had gotten decided to reopen the file.

— Posted by jabparker4

It seems to me that, if the woman's goal is financial profit, she is better served by keeping this quiet than by prosecuting in criminal court. From what little we know, the burden of reasonable doubt would be hard to overcome, and an acquittal would undermine her civil case.

If she isn't looking for money, but justice, the timing of this is suspect. If Winston were to be charged now, and subsequently suspended from the team, many fans would blame her for costing them a national championship (which they would no doubt assume would have been a given had he played). Some of those folks would wind up on his jury, where they would have &quot;reasonable doubt&quot; as to his guilt.

So who could both profit in some way (not necessarily financially) and also have some inkling that there was an accusation in the first place (not likely an Ohio State or Baylor fan)? Perhaps a disgruntled faculty member (see the link provided by emb above)?

This case may be squirrelly, but it goes to the heart of the football culture in our country. So close to the heart that there are going to be a lot of people interested in squelching it.

Based on that writing, it's likely there are more than one disgruntled faculty members at FSU. What's written there is mind-boggling IMO. One of my parents was a long time college professor and administrator at an ACC school. I've been told stories of coaches who were out of control, nothing like this though...

The sad part of it is that you could change the name of the school to almost any school playing FBS football and it would be just as believable.

Every school has some outstanding, motivated students who play football. These young men will be our future leaders. But most of them also have a much smaller number of athletes who behave as described in that article, and who are enabled by weak and/or sympathetic faculty who want to be seen as team players. The difference between winning and losing in big time college football is pretty small, and these bad apples are often enough the margin of victory.

If it were just the athletic departments who want to win at any cost, the problem wouldn't be so great. Too often the problem lies with the fat cat trustee who lives vicariously through his school's football team. Just like on these smack talk forums, he sees himself competing with other fat cats who live vicariously through other teams. I don't see that culture changing anytime soon. America's motto isn't &quot;We're excellent&quot;. It's &quot;We're Number One&quot; and too many of us will do what it takes to make that happen.